1929 Ford Highboy Roadster - When New Is Old And Old Is New

Father’s Day is extra special for hot rod dads here on the Best Coast. The L.A. Roadsters put on one heck of a shindig for us dads. It’s called the L.A. Roadsters Show, and as the name suggests, this two-day gathering showcases some of the best—no, make it the best—hot rod roadsters in the country.

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And it was during this year’s topless gathering at the Pomona Fairplex that we spotted Pachi Bengochea’s timeless ’29 highboy. We say timeless because if this all-steel car were transported back 60-something years to Muroc or one of the other legendary dry lake beds, it would fit right in with the party. That is, until someone popped open the Rootlieb hood, and there, plain as day, they’d see a small-block Chevy. Well, the motor’s cylinders aren’t so small because the engine has been bored and stroked to 383 ci, but let’s put a lid on the engine for the time being so we can admire the car’s timeless lines and proportions.

But before we do that, Pachi explains how most of the tinware, hardware, and speedware on this hot rod are post-war (as in World War II) stuff. Some notable exceptions include the big ’39 Lincoln brakes, ’40 Ford split wishbones, and the Model A buggy spring. Pausing to think for a moment, Pachi adds: “The door pull-knobs and the license plate are authentic 1929 items.”

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In truth, the squeaky-clean Squeak Bell ’32 frame was originally intended for a ’30 coupe that Pachi bought on his 30th birthday. Pachi, with the help of his father, Dave, pinched the framerails and installed crossmembers to match the coupe’s body. “I had the chassis done, and I was ready to chop the top (on the coupe) when I ran into a deal on a (Model A) roadster,” he tells us. Even though we need no further explanation, Pachi adds: “The roadster was my dream car.” No apologies necessary, Pachi. Many of us share that same dream.

It wasn’t just any Model A roadster body, either. The fresh tin had the word Brookville stamped on it, so there was no rust or other accumulated caustic calluses to clean up, although there was some squaring to the frame required before assembly. “I had to add an inch on each side of the cowl, and I pulled the fenderwells to fit the frame,” Pachi told us.

When Pachi was satisfied with the fit, he delivered the body to Santa Rosa Collision and Custom where Parker Arrien, Quinn Norcutt, and Jim Fitzgerald prepped the metal so that Arrien could squirt it with the single-stage black paint. “I didn’t get the hood and deck back until Tuesday before the roadster show,” Pachi says, “and I mounted them Wednesday and left for Pomona on Thursday morning.” That’s cutting it close, especially considering that his trip started in beautiful downtown Winnemucca, Nevada.

And while Pachi waited for those remaining body parts to be delivered, he and his father fitted the rubber floor mats and installed the Frank Wallic aircraft-style seats and Bill Rich bomber-style belts. The Spartan interior includes a pair of ’38 Auburn gauges on the ’32 Ford dash, and what little upholstery there is to be found was installed by Pachi and Dave. “And the custom dinosaur egg shift knob is by Bazel Slaughter,” Pachi adds. It all makes for a tidy and timeless roadster interior.

The car runs straight and true, too. The 383 engine produces 415 hp and a hefty 470 lb-ft of torque, so there’s no question when the Tremec five-speed transmission and Halibrand quick-change deliver the knockout punch to the 18-inch Firestone skins that look at all the world as if they rolled right out of 1938. Pachi gives credit to Source Too Machine for helping bring the old Chevy mill back to life, machining all surfaces to tolerance. Source Too also cut the three carburetor stacks that sit atop the Barry Grant Six Shooter induction system. A matching set is found on father Dave’s roadster. “My wife, Nikki, and daughters, Kepa and Adia, were patient with me during this five-year build,” boasts Pachi. His 3-year-old son Txema was another story. “He was born in the middle of this project, and as soon as he was old enough to walk he liked hanging out in the garage with Dad and me. He’s one of the main reasons we finished the car before this year’s roadster show!” Obviously the little tyke knows how to run a tight shop.

Pachi’s ’29 also happens to be joined at the hip to his father’s ’32 highboy. “I find myself looking at these two roadsters and saying to myself, ‘like father, like son.’ The truth is, the black paint and velocity stacks are the only two things the same. But we share a real passion for hot rods.”

But if Txema has his way, Pachi will have to change the family mantra to: “Like father like son like grandson.” And sharing a love for hot rod roadster is partly what the Father’s Day Show is all about, no? Moreover, this year’s show was the perfect place to debut Txema’s, er, Pachi’s car.